Cameroon will not be burdened by the notion of revenge when they meet defending champions Egypt in the African Cup of Nations quarter finals, midfielder Alexandre Song said on Saturday. The Indomitable Lions were denied a fifth Nations Cup crown in 2008 when they slumped to a 1-0 defeat to Egypt, who won a record-extending sixth title. Egypt also prevented Cameroon from reaching the 2006 World Cup when they held them to a 1-1 draw in Yaounde one year earlier. Cameroon's veteran midfielder Geremi Njitap said his side would seek revenge against the Pharaohs in Monday's anticipated encounter in Benguela but Song does not agree. "That was 2008. Now we are in 2010 and it is a different game entirely," the Arsenal midfielder said. "I think it will be wrong to have revenge in mind. That would blind us to the reality of the situation.
Bitter memories for Cameroon "In 2008, we lost to them and that is gone. Now we have to look at them from the eyes of the present." Cameroon players initially thought they would face Nigeria in the quarter final but later found out that they finished second in Group D on four points, behind leaders Zambia who scored more goals. The identity of Cameroon's opponents makes no difference, Song believes. "We do not have any preference. They are both great teams in Africa and world football," the 22-year-old added. "There was a time we thought we were going to play Nigeria, then word came that we are facing Egypt, so we have removed Nigeria from our system. We know we are facing Egypt and that's it."
